Another England international set to sacrifice Test career with Top 14 move
- Former Ireland international Sean O’Brien handed lengthy ban - September 15, 2026
- Steve Hansen tears into ‘ludicrous’ Springboks vs All Blacks incident - September 15, 2026
- Leinster issue huge Caelan Doris update ahead of Nations Championship - September 15, 2026
On the move.
Another England international is set to sacrifice his Test career after agreeing a move to the Top 14.
Bath prop Beno Obano has reportedly agreed a two-year deal to join Pau when his contract at The Rec expires at the end of the current season.
According to L’Équipe, the 31-year-old had been considering his options in recent weeks, with remaining at Bath among the possibilities as he looked to keep alive his hopes of playing for England at the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Obano also reportedly held talks with Bordeaux-Bègles, who are searching for a replacement for the retiring Jefferson Poirot.
However, Pau have now won the race for his signature, with L’Équipe reporting that an agreement between the two parties was finalised in recent hours on the basis of a two-year contract.
England’s overseas selection policy means players based outside the country are generally ineligible for Test selection, meaning Obano will effectively sacrifice his England career when he moves to France next summer.
He is set to follow the likes of Jack Willis (Toulouse) and Tom Willis (Bordeaux) in taking his career to the Top 14.
It comes after the loosehead worked his way back into Steve Borthwick’s plans this year. Obano earned his first England cap in more than two years when he came off the bench against South Africa at Ellis Park in July.
It was the fifth Test appearance of his career and had potentially put him back in contention ahead of next year’s World Cup.
However, Obano was not among the 25 players subsequently awarded an enhanced Elite Player Squad contract for the 2026/27 season. His departure will also bring an end to a lengthy spell with Bath.
Obano made his senior debut for the club against Exeter Chiefs in February 2015 and is now approaching 200 appearances.
He started both Bath’s Challenge Cup and Premiership final victories in 2025 and has been a key member of Johann van Graan’s squad in recent seasons.
Pau finished fourth in the Top 14 last season and have now secured the services of the England international ahead of the 2027/28 campaign.
For Obano, however, the move to France appears set to come at the cost of any further involvement with England – including the 2027 World Cup.
